But it has looked only at economic issues, chiefly whether mergers would reduce competition.

As originally designed, the merger might well have reduced competition among companies that provide high-speed access to the Internet.

To the degree that mergers reduce excess capacity, they do provide a benefit.

Some residents expressed fear that the merger would reduce the city's ability to fight crime in the projects.

I don't understand how this merger reduces competition and increases prices.

And mergers in the cable industry are reducing the field to a dwindling number of big players.

Industry critics contend that the mergers have significantly reduced competition.

In particular, he said, a merger would reduce competition for municipal contracts.

One problem is that mergers reduce the number of available elected positions, and thus are not popular with local politicians.

But most consumer advocates say that the merger will reduce competition and drive up rates.